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Design, Cost & Planning

Architectural Design in Dublin, Costed as It's Drawn

Get your extension or renovation designed by the team that builds it. Every BuildTech design is priced against a real construction cost from the first sketch, so you end up with plans you can actually build without blowing the budget.

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  • A design shaped around your home, your budget and how you live
  • Full drawings, including floor plans, elevations, sections and 3D visuals
  • One in-house team from first sketch to finished build
  • All building works certified by an Independent Chartered Engineer

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All enquiries are reviewed by our team before a consultation is confirmed.

CIRI Registered

Construction Industry Register Ireland

5★ Google Rated

Verified by Dublin homeowners

CIF Member

Construction Industry Federation

100+ Projects Delivered

Across Greater Dublin Region

A Design You Can't Afford to Build is Just an Expensive Drawing

A drawing shows what your home could look like. But it rarely tells you what that will cost to build, and that gap is where budgets slip. BuildTech’s architectural design works the other way round. We design with real Dublin construction costs in hand, so the plan on the page is one you can build for the money you have. 

If you are planning an extension or a full home renovation, the cost is clear before the design is signed off.

  • What a design shows: layout, size, light, finishes and how the space feels
  • What most drawings leave open: structure, services, specification and the real build cost
  • What BuildTech adds: a costed, buildable version of the same design
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Client Reviews

What Our Clients Say

Rated 5★ across Google, Houzz, and OnlineTradesmen by Dublin homeowners.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
GB
Graham Barry
Google

"Professional, reliable service with clear communication and integrity."

"Professional, reliable service with clear communication and integrity. The team kept us informed at every stage and delivered exactly what was promised. Would recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy provider."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
KW
Kirsten Wendenburg
Google

"Excellent communication and budget-friendly suggestions throughout."

"Excellent communication and budget-friendly suggestions throughout. They took the time to understand our needs and offered practical options at every step. The end result exceeded our expectations."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
OA
Olga Antipenko
Google

"Excellent communication and support throughout. Highly recommend."

"Excellent communication and support throughout. Highly recommend. From the first call to the final handover everything was handled professionally. The team was responsive, knowledgeable and clearly cared about the outcome."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
JM
James Murphy
Google

"Outstanding work from start to finish. Couldn't be happier with the result."

"Outstanding work from start to finish. Couldn't be happier with the result. They were punctual, tidy and clearly took pride in their craft. The whole project came in on time and on budget."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
SO
Sarah O'Brien
Google

"Genuinely impressed with the quality and attention to detail."

"Genuinely impressed with the quality and attention to detail. Every aspect of the project was carefully considered and the finish is excellent. I'd use them again without hesitation."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
DK
David Kelly
Google

"Top-class service. Friendly team and a fair price."

"Top-class service. Friendly team and a fair price. They were upfront about everything, no hidden surprises and the work was completed to a very high standard. Already recommended them to a neighbour."

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Everything Designed and Built by One Team From the First Sketch

Most extension projects split the work in two. An architect draws it, then a builder prices it, and the two rarely meet until the quote comes back over budget. BuildTech designs and builds under one roof. Our focus stays on buildability and cost from the start. This is why a design-and-build route usually costs less than hiring a separate architect and lands closer to budget.

  • The people designing your extension are the people who will build it
  • Cost and buildability are checked as the design develops, not after
  • No juggling an architect, a quantity surveyor and a builder separately

 

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Not sure what your home renovation will cost? We give you full cost clarity before you commit to anything.

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How It Works

A Structured Process Built Around Your Budget

BuildTech follows a clear four-step pathway, from initial feasibility through to completed construction, designed to protect your budget and keep your project on track.

1

Feasibility

Budget & scope clarity before any design work begins

Design

Measured survey, technical layout & cost plan
2
3

Planning

Managed application where required, many extensions are exempt

Build

On-time, on-budget delivery with full project management
4
Start with a Feasibility Call
Why BuildTech

Why Do You Need BuildTech for Architectural Design?

You get design and construction from one team, with the build cost visible at every step. Our experts are the same people who price your design and then build it. Everything we do is based on real data from live Dublin projects, including permission planning, structural engineering, building, and everything in between. 

  • An in-house architectural design team, not outsourced drawings
  • Every design priced against real construction cost data
  • Feasibility-led, so you have budget clarity before the design is final
  • Value engineering built in, so the design stays affordable
  • Certified on completion by an Independent Chartered Engineer

What Does Our Architectural Design Cover for You?

Architectural design turns your brief into a buildable plan for your home. We cover the concept and layout, a measured survey, a full set of drawings and 3D visuals, and a design shaped to your budget. Here is what each part means for your extension or renovation.

Concept and layout, built around how you live

We start with how you want to use the space: light, flow, room sizes and the connection to your garden. You see options, not a single take-it-or-leave-it drawing.

A measured survey of the house you actually have

An accurate survey of your existing home is the base for every drawing. It keeps the design grounded in the real building rather than an assumption, which matters most on older Dublin housing stock.

Floor plans, elevations and 3D visuals

You see how the finished space will look and feel before anything is built. Decisions get made on screen, where changes are free, instead of on site, where they are not.

A design priced to your budget

Every design is priced as it develops. Where it drifts over budget, value engineering brings it back without losing the look you wanted.

Drawings ready for planning

Where your project needs consent, the drawing set is prepared to submit, and it is one less handover to manage.

Common Issues

Do You Need an Architect for an Extension in Dublin?

No, not by law. In Ireland the title architect is protected under the Building Control Act 2007, but you do not need a registered architect to design or build an extension. A design-and-build contractor or an architectural technologist can design it, handle planning and build it. Which route suits you depends on where your project is right now.

Want the budget confirmed first?

A feasibility consultation checks what your budget can realistically do first, so the design starts from a brief that holds up.

Already have drawings?

If you have plans from another designer, we can price and pressure-test them. Our construction cost review turns existing drawings into a real build cost.

Need the technical drawings and cost plan?

Once the design is agreed, cost and technical design produces the measured survey, technical layout and detailed cost plan together.

Not sure about planning?

Many extensions are exempt. Where consent is needed, our planning permission service manages the full application and the local authority for you.

How Our Architectural Design Works for Irish Homeowners

Our belief is that good design is not one drawing handed over at the end. It develops with you, from a first conversation about how you want to live to a costed set of plans you sign off. 

Here is how BuildTech gets you there: 

  • We start with your brief: How you use the space now, what is not working, and what you want it to do
  • We survey and sketch options: A measured survey of your home, then more than one design direction to react to
  • We develop the design you choose: Refined into full drawings and 3D visuals, priced as it goes
  • You sign off a costed design: A plan you know you can build, ready for planning or construction

Start with the Right Design and a Clear Budget

Start with a conversation with BuildTech. We design your project around your budget from day one. Talk to our design team first.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Architectural design covers the concept and layout of your project, a measured survey of your home, a full drawing set (floor plans, elevations and sections), 3D visuals, and a design shaped to your budget. With BuildTech, the design is priced as it is drawn, so you know it can be built for the money available.
No. The title architect is protected under the Building Control Act 2007, but hiring a registered architect is not a legal requirement for an extension. A design-and-build contractor or an architectural technologist can design the project, manage planning and build it. A chartered architect is usually worth it for listed buildings or complex, design-led schemes.
For most standard extensions and renovations, a design-and-build team or an architectural technologist is enough, and usually cheaper than a full architectural service. A chartered architect suits protected structures and complex designs. Design and build gives you one team from concept to finished build, with no gap between the drawing and the price.
A full architectural service in Ireland typically runs from about 8% to 15% of the build cost, with fixed fees more common for straightforward extensions. Because BuildTech designs and builds, the design sits inside one costed process rather than a separate percentage fee. For the full picture, see our guide to architect fees in Ireland.
Yes. BuildTech is a design-and-build contractor. The same in-house team designs your extension or renovation, manages planning and builds it, with a dedicated project manager and Independent Chartered Engineer certification on completion. BuildTech works on projects from a minimum value of €100,000.

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We review your enquiry before confirming a consultation — ensuring only suitable projects proceed.

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  • Min. project €100k · No surprises

What's Included

  • Feasibility consultation included
  • Measured survey & assessment
  • Technical design package
  • Full project management
  • Engineer certification on completion

Related Services

Home Renovation

House Extension

Attic Conversion

Deep Retrofit

Feasibility Consultation

Not sure where to start?

A feasibility consultation (€200 call · €500 home visit) confirms your planning position before you spend anything on drawings.

Book Feasibility Call
Explore more

Our Services

BuildTech is a specialist design and build contractor. We take on a focused range of projects — and we do not progress any project without a clear, agreed budget.

Single-Storey Rear Extension

The most common home project in Dublin. Open-plan kitchen and living, utility room, or additional family space — from feasibility through to a certified, compliant build.

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Home Renovation

Whole-home renovations and structural alterations for Dublin homeowners. Internal reconfigurations, layout redesign, and full refurbishment — all budget-led from day one.

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Feasibility Consultation

€200 call or €500 home visit. We establish what is realistically achievable within your budget before any design work begins — saving you time, money, and stress.

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Planning Permission

Full application management — pre-planning strategy, drawings, submission, and decision monitoring. Many extensions are planning exempt; we confirm this first.

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Already Have Plans?

Cost Planning & Construction Review from €2,500 + VAT. We provide a full cost breakdown of your existing drawings — gap identification, budget alignment, and value engineering.

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Cost & Technical Design

Measured survey, technical layout, and a detailed cost plan — all aligned to your budget before construction begins. No over-specified designs that cannot be built within your means.

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Our work

Recent Projects

Each project below started with a feasibility consultation and a clear budget. Here is what we delivered.

All Projects

Extension + Renovation

Full Ground Floor Renovation with Rear Extension

Location : Dublin

Scope : Ground floor knock-through, rear extension, open-plan kitchen and living

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Delivered on time and on budget

Extension + Renovation

Sandymount Seafront
Renovation

Location : Sandymount, Dublin 4

Scope : Full home renovation of period seafront property

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Full project management, completed on programme

Extension + Renovation

Rear Extension Plus Partial Renovation, Dublin 14

Location : Dublin 14

Scope : Single-storey rear extension and partial ground-floor renovation

Status : Planning exempt

✓ On budget, handover on schedule

Extension + Renovation

20 sqm Single-Storey Rear Extension, Mount Merrion

Location : Mount Merrion, South Dublin

Scope : 20 sqm flat-roof rear extension, open-plan kitchen and dining

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Completed on time and on budget

Extension + Renovation

Split-Level Open Plan Kitchen & Lounge Renovation

Location : Dublin

Scope : Structural reconfiguration, split-level open-plan kitchen and lounge

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Full project management included

Ready to Start the Design of Your Project?

Tell us about your project and we will show you what is realistic, what it costs and how the design could work. Talk to us first.

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0818 333 443

No obligation. No pressure. Just honest advice.